Ag. and Markets Orders Wheatfield to Allow Use of Biosolids on Town LandWheatfield, NY (5/23/17) -- Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets of the State of New York, Richard A. Ball, has required Wheatfield to allow the land application of Equate to Milleville Brothers Farms. Ball stated “Although given the opportunity to do so, the Town of Wheatfield did not provide the Department with any correspondence, documentation or other information showing any public health or safety threat relating to the land application of biosolids by the farm operation. The town submitted articles referencing studies evaluating impacts under dissimilar circumstances (e.g., impacts to animals grazing on land where biosolids were surface-applied)."

AWA Considering Biosolids OptionsAltoona, PA (5/21/17) -- Altoona Water Authority currently uses a centrifuge to dewater sludge to create a class B biosolids. Due to a reduction in farmland available for spreading and increasing regulations making application logistics more difficult, the authority is considering investing in a dryer to produces a class A product.

City Considers Adding Sludge Drier to Wastewater PlantLockport, NY (5/19/17) -- The Lockport Common Council voted recently to hire Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc. to conduct a cost-to-benefit analysis on installing a sludge dryer at their wastewater facility for a fee of $26,500. The city’s current composting facility is reaching the end of its life and the sludge dryer would be its replacement for producing biosolids.

Sunbreak Farm Would Spread Biosolids Near C-25 Canal, Taylor CreekTCPalm, Florida (5/24/17) -- TCPalm continues coverage on the use of biosolids in Florida. Sunbreak Farms is looking to land apply 80,000 tons of compost containing biosolids on its land that stretches across two counties. Both counties are considering contesting the permit and have requested the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to extend the public comment period.

News from Abroad

Farm-Bound Sludge Teems with Tiny Plastic FibresBrunel University, London, England (5/22/17) -- “The team behind BBC’s Countryfile, one of the nation’s most popular TV programmes, turned to Brunel ecotoxicologist Dr Chris Green to investigate whether microplastics – microfibres and other small plastic pieces – are present in biosolids: sludge from wastewater treatment that’s been pasteurised so it can be spread onto farmland as a fertiliser and soil improver.” The Countryfile episode which aired recently confirmed that microplastics are making it to farmland.

Use of Biosolids in Enhanced Fired Clay BricksRMIT University, Australia (5/18/17) -- “This thesis presents and discusses the possible reuse of biosolids in fired clay bricks and the effect of incorporating biosolids on the compressive strength, density, and other physical and mechanical properties of bricks. In this study, biosolids from the stockpiles of the Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) and Western Treatment Plant (WTP) in Melbourne were used to assess their suitability as a partial replacement material for clay in the formulation of fired clay bricks.”

Turning Sewage Sludge into Fuels and HydrogenOberhausen, Germany (5/17/17) -- “Twelve SME, industrial, and scientific partners, coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, are participating in a new ambitious research project named TO-SYN-FUEL which will build up, operate and demonstrate the production of Synthetic Fuels and Green Hydrogen from waste biomass.” In the project, sewage sludge will be used to produce green diesel. There will be a four year period where the team will build-up, operate and demonstrate the technology. By the end of the project they hope to have a business case for green fuels in order to support future targets of the European Commission’s Renewable Energy Directive.To-Syn-Fuel Turns Sewage Sludge into Fuels and Hydrogen